Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 280 Featherweight

Agreed, The 270 hasn't suffered any for its 65K psi loading standard.
The 280 has definitely suffered commercially from its lower 60K psi standard.
I suppose the .280's throat might last a little longer.

It is what it is.

Back in the mid 80's I bought a Rem. 280 mtn rifle 22" barrel hunted with it for 10 years. After that I put a 24" number 4 conture after market barrel on it. Why you ask biggest reason is it balanced the gun and I could hold it alot steadier off hand. Also it shot better. Pickup a light gun and try to hold it steady off hand when you are breathing hard climbing up mtns. all are hard to hold steady in those conditions but a balanced gun is much easier. It is now a 280AI and I don't regret it. Nothing wrong with the plain 280 just like the 200 fps I gained.

I've got two .270s now, one has a 24" barrel and the other has a 22" pipe. The three other .270s I've owned have had 22" barrels, too.

I've not been able to see any difference in killing deer with either barrel length. Neither seem to have any problems knocking a deer well and truly dead.

I don't even see any difference at the chronograph, perhaps my 24" pipe is a bit "slow", or the 22" pipes are a bit fast, who knows?

The Model 70 seems to balance better for ME with the 24" pipe, so I've kept it at that length. The Howa seems to work well enough with its shorter barrel.

Deer don't seem to care either way, nor do I. I use the same loads in both rifles, out of the same box, even. A good load with good bullets, kills deer just fine. I don't hunt elk, or moose, but my deer die quick and easy with the 6.8, no problems. I don't even have to worry about bullets, all the .277" bullets I've used kill stuff dead enough.

He's dead, and a liberal ass democrat. What else you got?

6.8 x 51 30degree, Longer neck in a SA Fwt - yeah I'd like that

No special tight twist is really required, because available bullets are designed for the normal 10" twist that millions of .270 Win work so well with. Change in that regard for the .277 caliber is going to be very slow. Glacial even.
On the other hand, a little over-stabilization isn't such a sin with todays quality of bullets. Lots of the new Lighter weight offerings designed for the SPC are available. Are they outside their performance envelope ?

The old 280 Remington is just another 'new' cartridge brought out to sell you and I yet another rifle.

The similar 7X64 is the same in Europe.

If you want a cartridge like that get a 30-06 or a 270.

Nosler #6 said:

"The biggest problem with the 280 is that it was introduced many hunting seasons too late. By the time it came along in 1957 the 270 and 30-06 had become America's favorite big-game cartriges and nothing else had a chance of dethroning either."

Why else would any company bring out a new product??

Similar performance to the .280, loaded at higher pressure under the CIP standards. The 7x64 case has even more taper, and quite different standard bore dimensions of a euro 7mm. Others here would know more about throating variations of these.

It pre-dates the iconic .270 Winchester but not the venerable .30'06

Neither the 7x64, .280 Rem , or even the 7 RSAUM run any risk of unseating the popularity and commercial success of either the .270 Win, or dare approach the King .30'06 .

Big deal. The .280 is a great cartridge in it's own right. Why would anyone need a 270 or .30-06 instead? Your point seems pretty moot. It will really bite you in the backside when you hear that my 280 is a Remington 700.

That settles it,gonna get two .280's now!

Another drive by from Dumb Don

Now we're talkin', Make sure that at least 1 is a M70 Fwt, and maybe a 700 Mtn Stainless. You'll wish you bought two of each as a NIB investment :-)

Actually thinking of getting one of these and have Douglas put on one of their "Featherweight" barrels. Then a nicely figured wood stock.

http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/dumoulin-mauser-action.aspx

Drooling !

Please post pics and experiences as this evolves.

Cheers

Will do,but this will take awhile.

Think I'll go shoot my 280 today....

Sounds like a plan Bob! Are you still actively working with the Mashburn ?
I always enjoy our discourse, we've explored many subtle points over the years. I am the richer for it.

To the OP : good luck with your .280 Fwt M70 quest.
Mine is a '92 NH Fwt Classic, and it has been a real gem.
Over the years I've had others ( Rem 700 Mtn, 725, 700 KS now AId ), but this is the best of the type.

I truly hope that Winchester can deliver enough of them in .280, so that all who would consider purchasing them can do so.

Waiting over a year for a Shot Show special to "arrive" is just painful.

Those actions are supposed to be a PITA to get scope mounts on. If you have a decent machinist/smith, then it's just a project.
ETA: Talley solution
http://www.talleymanufacturing.com/...ulin/Steel-Base-for-Dumoulin-Mauser.aspx
Also lots of internet chatter they are made in China.

Bob -

The thing that makes the .280 so far superior to a .270 is +007".